[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 20 (Monday, May 18, 1998)]
[Pages 869-870]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13084--Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

May 14, 1998

    The United States has a unique legal relationship with Indian tribal 
governments as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, 
treaties, statutes, Executive orders, and court decisions. Since the 
formation of the Union, the United States has recognized Indian tribes 
as domestic dependent nations under its protection. In treaties, our 
Nation has guaranteed the right of Indian tribes to self-government. As 
domestic dependent nations, Indian tribes exercise inherent sovereign 
powers over their members and territory. The United States continues to 
work with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis to address 
issues concerning Indian tribal self-government, trust resources, and 
Indian tribal treaty and other rights.
    Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the 
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order 
to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with 
Indian tribal governments in the development of regulatory practices on 
Federal matters that significantly or uniquely affect their communities; 
to reduce the imposition of unfunded mandates upon Indian tribal 
governments; and to streamline the application process for and increase 
the availability of waivers to Indian tribal governments; it is hereby 
ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this order:
    (a) ``State'' or ``States'' refer to the States of the United States 
of America, individually or collectively, and, where relevant, to State 
governments, including units of local government and other political 
subdivisions established by the States.
    (b) ``Indian tribe'' means an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, 
nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior 
acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally 
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a.
    (c) ``Agency'' means any authority of the United States that is an 
``agency'' under 44 U.S.C. 3502(1), other than those considered to be 
independent regulatory agencies, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5).
    Sec. 2. Policymaking Criteria. In formulating policies significantly 
or uniquely affecting Indian tribal governments, agencies shall be 
guided, to the extent permitted by law, by principles of respect for 
Indian tribal self-government and sovereignty, for tribal treaty and 
other rights, and for responsibilities that arise from the unique legal 
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribal 
governments.
    Sec. 3. Consultation. (a) Each agency shall have an effective 
process to permit elected officials and other representatives of Indian 
tribal governments to provide meaningful and timely input in the 
development of regulatory policies on matters that significantly or 
uniquely affect their communities.
    (b) To the extent practicable and permitted by law, no agency shall 
promulgate any regulation that is not required by statute, that 
significantly or uniquely affects the communities of the Indian tribal 
governments, and that imposes substantial direct compliance costs on 
such communities, unless:
    (1) funds necessary to pay the direct costs incurred by the Indian 
tribal government in complying with the regulation are provided by the 
Federal Government; or
    (2) the agency, prior to the formal promulgation of the regulation,
    (A) in a separately identified portion of the preamble to the 
regulation as it is to be

[[Page 870]]

issued in the Federal Register, provides to the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget a description of the extent of the agency's 
prior consultation with representatives of affected Indian tribal 
governments, a summary of the nature of their concerns, and the agency's 
position supporting the need to issue the regulation; and
    (B) makes available to the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget any written communications submitted to the agency by such Indian 
tribal governments.
    Sec. 4. Increasing Flexibility for Indian Tribal Waivers. (a) 
Agencies shall review the processes under which Indian tribal 
governments apply for waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements 
and take appropriate steps to streamline those processes.
    (b) Each agency shall, to the extent practicable and permitted by 
law, consider any application by an Indian tribal government for a 
waiver of statutory or regulatory requirements in connection with any 
program administered by that agency with a general view toward 
increasing opportunities for utilizing flexible policy approaches at the 
Indian tribal level in cases in which the proposed waiver is consistent 
with the applicable Federal policy objectives and is otherwise 
appropriate.
    (c) Each agency shall, to the extent practicable and permitted by 
law, render a decision upon a complete application for a waiver within 
120 days of receipt of such application by the agency. The agency shall 
provide the applicant with timely written notice of the decision and, if 
the application for a waiver is not granted, the reasons for such 
denial.
    (d) This section applies only to statutory or regulatory 
requirements that are discretionary and subject to waiver by the agency.
    Sec. 5. Cooperation in developing regulations. On issues relating to 
tribal self-government, trust resources, or treaty and other rights, 
each agency should explore and, where appropriate, use consensual 
mechanisms for developing regulations, including negotiated rulemaking.
    Sec. 6. Independent agencies. Independent regulatory agencies are 
encouraged to comply with the provisions of this order.
    Sec. 7. General provisions. (a) This order is intended only to 
improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not 
intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or trust 
responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity 
by a party against the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, 
its officers or employees, or any other person.
    (b) This order shall supplement but not supersede the requirements 
contained in Executive Order 12866 (``Regulatory Planning and Review''), 
Executive Order 12988 (``Civil Justice Reform''), OMB Circular A-19, and 
the Executive Memorandum of April 29, 1994, on Government-to-Government 
Relations with Native American Tribal Governments.
    (c) This order shall complement the consultation and waiver 
provisions in sections 4 and 5 of the Executive order, entitled 
``Federalism,'' being issued on this day.
    (d) This order shall be effective 90 days after the date of this 
order.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
May 14, 1998.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:24 a.m., May 18, 
1998]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
May 19.